Tawny

HEX: #CD5700 | Modern Palette

On White
4.23:1
FAIL
On Black
4.96:1
PASS

Color Specifications

HEX
#CD5700
RGB
205, 87, 0
HSL
25°, 100% ,40%
CMYK
0, 58, 100, 20

About Tawny

Tawny (#CD5700) is a color with RGB(205, 87, 0) and HSL(25.5°, 100%, 40.2%). It is commonly associated with Energetic, Bold moods. In design, it fits Vivid, Warm styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Accent. Its complementary color is #0076CD, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #00CD57 and #5700CD. The name comes from tané (Old French).

  • HEX: #CD5700
  • RGB: 205, 87, 0
  • HSL: 25.5°, 100%, 40.2%
  • Mood: Energetic, Bold
  • Style: Vivid, Warm
  • Use case: Text, Button, Accent
  • Complementary color: #0076CD
  • Triadic colors: #00CD57, #5700CD
  • The name comes from tané (Old French).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Monochromatic Five tones of the same hue — a reliable scale for backgrounds, surfaces, and text.
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
Analogous Five hues drifting across a 60° arc — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
3 + 1 + 1 Three analogous base colors, one complementary accent, one dark anchor — bold yet balanced.

Color Harmonies

Complementary

The color directly opposite on the color wheel — creates maximum contrast and vibrance.

Analogous

Colors adjacent on the wheel — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.

Triadic

Three colors equally spaced 120° apart — bold, balanced, and visually rich.

Split-Complementary

Two colors flanking the complement — high contrast with less tension than full complementary.

Tetradic (Square)

Four colors at 90° intervals — rich variety, best when one color dominates.

Monochromatic

Shades and tints of the same hue — cohesive, elegant, and easy to work with.

Shades & Tints

A seamless scale of #CD5700 from deepest shade to lightest tint.

Color Characteristics

Mood
Energetic Bold
Style
Vivid Warm
Use case
Text Button Accent

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #888800
Protanopia #6C6C08
Tritanopia #CF5151
Achromatopsia #7B7B7B

Frequently Asked Questions

Tawny (#CD5700) is a color with RGB(205, 87, 0) and HSL(25.5°, 100%, 40.2%).

#CD5700 pairs strongly with #0076CD as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#CD5700 is suitable for Text, Button, Accent and works well with Vivid, Warm styles.

#CD5700 is commonly associated with Energetic, Bold.

The name Tawny is linked to tané from Old French, meaning tanned, of a tan color.

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word tané
Meaning tanned, of a tan color
Language Old French
First Recorded Use Late Middle English

History

The word 'tawny' entered English from Old French 'tané', which itself is derived from 'tan' (oak bark used in tanning leather). This connection to tanning explains the color's association with a brownish-orange hue, similar to tanned leather. Early uses often described animal fur, particularly lions, or human skin that was sun-darkened. Over time, its application broadened to describe various natural elements, such as autumn leaves, certain types of wine, and the plumage of birds.

First Recorded Use

c. 1386

Cultural Associations

Tawny is often associated with autumn and harvest seasons due to the color of changing leaves. It is also a common descriptor for certain breeds of animals (e.g., tawny owl, tawny frogmouth) and specific types of wine (e.g., Tawny Port). In heraldry, 'tenné' or 'tawny' is a stain, a non-standard color, often represented as orange or brownish-orange, and is sometimes associated with dishonor or ambition, though its use is rare compared to the primary tinctures.

Similar Named Colors
Burnt Orange #CC5500 ΔE 0.66
Alloy Orange #C46210 ΔE 3.81
Chocolate #D2691E ΔE 4.89
Ruddy Brown #BB6528 ΔE 5.25

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #CD5700;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #CD5700;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #CD5700;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #CD5700,
        #0076CD
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #CD5700,
        #0076CD
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$tawny: #CD5700;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$tawny-r: 205;
$tawny-g: 87;
$tawny-b: 0;

// Usage
.element {
    background-color: $tawny;
    color: rgba($tawny-r, $tawny-g, $tawny-b, 0.8);
}